This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
Today we are featuring Jim Cobb’s latest book The Prepper’s Complete Book of Disaster Readiness.
Jim Cobb runs DisasterPrepConsultants.com, and SurvivalWeekly.com. He is also the author of Prepper’s Home Defense. Clearly, he knows and lives the prepping lifestyle so I thought it would be great to do an interview with Jim and find out his thoughts about urban prepping.
1. New preppers get overwhelmed by all the possible threats facing our
world. What do you think are the most likely disasters to prepare for
and why?
Most threats can be termed as either short-term or long-term, which refers
to the duration of the crisis. The short-term threats are the ones most
likely to occur, whether you are in an urban or rural area. These include
things like extended power outages and severe weather. Disasters like
those happen every single day, all around the globe, and are the ones for
which many people need to prepare. The long-term stuff, like EMP,
economic collapse, and the eruption of the Yellowstone caldera are all
*possible* but the odds of any of them happening at any given time are
somewhat remote.
That said, I like to suggest that if you are prepared for a total societal
collapse, you are certainly prepared for lesser emergencies.
2. What would you advice city dwellers on improving their chances to
survive a disaster?
The primary risk factor facing urban preppers, as opposed to those who
live out in the sticks, is other people. Therefore, that’s where to
concentrate efforts on improving the odds of survival. Those who live in
the cities and who cannot or will not move to lesser populated areas
should develop something of a bunker mentality with their disaster
planning. Stockpile supplies in sufficient quantities to negate the need
to go out looking for more, at least for a good period of time. Food,
water, medical needs, all should be accounted for and on hand in the event
of a crisis.
On top of that, security measures should also be at the forefront. Some
means of self-defense as well as methods of preventing intrusions are
important.
Finally, learn how to blend in to the area. No, I don’t mean purchasing
or manufacturing some sort of disguise that makes you look like a brick
wall. What I’m getting at is that urban preppers, perhaps more so than
their country cousins, need to learn how to develop a “gray man” approach.
Look for ways to hide their very presence within the community, or at
least do nothing to stand out from the crowd.
3. How would you get around the extra challenges of space and close
proximity to others facing an apartment dweller?
Naturally, in any sort of apartment or condo, space is at a premium.
There are ways, though, to hide things in plain sight, so to speak. For
example, a Rubbermaid tote can contain quite a bit of canned goods or
other supplies. Drape a patterned bed sheet or tablecloth over it and it
can serve as an end table or coffee table, with few being the wiser.
Another option is to utilize the storage unit that is commonly provided in
the basement of apartment buildings. Store your goodies in cardboard
boxes, but label them as being “old clothes” or “Grannie’s books.”
4. Please tell us a bit about your background.
I’ve been a prepper for about thirty years, well before the term prepper
even came into being. I’m an author, of course, as well as a licensed
private investigator. Prior to that, I worked in corporate security and
also facilitated many diverse training programs on topics such as loss
prevention and preventing workplace violence.
When it comes to educating people about disaster readiness, I’ve always
tried to focus on practicality and common sense, avoiding things like
conspiracy theories and the like. Personally, I don’t care so much about
*why* people prep, as long as they do it.
5. Any plans for other books?
I have a couple of books coming out in 2014. Prepper’s Long-Term Survival
Guide should be released around the middle of March. Whereas my previous
books have concentrated mostly on the short-term sorts of disasters, this
book speaks to the extreme long-term crises and how to prepare for them.
In other words, The Prepper’s Complete Book of Disaster Readiness shows
readers how to prepare for extended power outages and Prepper’s Long-Term
Survival Guide shows them how to plan for a time when the lights might
never come back on.
Then, in May or thereabouts is coming Countdown to Preparedness. This is
the book version of a project I ran on SurvivalWeekly.com back in 2012.
Essentially, it is a 52 week course in disaster readiness. There is one
lesson to be completed each week, along with homework assignments. If the
reader faithfully completes each lesson and assignment, at the end of the
course they will be fully prepared to deal with disasters that could last
upwards of several months.
Both of these will be published by Ulysses Press and are available now for
preorder through Amazon and other booksellers.
Our thanks to Jim Cobb participating in our Book Feature and for his thoughtful answers!
Now for the giveaway:
What aspect of disaster readiness are you most concerned about and why?
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Because I have preexisting conditions I am most concerned with the medical aspects of prepping and how to deal with it both short and long term.
I am most concerned about a physical or cyber attack on the power grid.In November 2013 the United States, Canada, and Mexico conducted a huge exercise involving thousands of utility workers, government agencies, anti terrorism experts, FBI agents,and more than 150 private businesses. You can watch the National Geographic special American Blackout on you tube to get a good idea of what will happen.
Since I lost my job at the beginning of the year, being able to continue to prepare on a much reduced income is my primary concern. While I can continue to make small purchases, and gain knowledge, some of the ‘larger’ ideas I had (including moving further out) have been put on hold indefinitely. I want to do more homesteading but where I live, the best I can do is continue to garden each growing season and learn to can/preserve my produce (I SO wanted to get a dehydrator). TY for the interview with Mr. Cobb, and for this giveaway!
I’m sorry you lost your job, I hope you will find another one.
I am most concerned about home defense. We are just beginning the prepping process on a very tight budget. Additionally, we are in a metro area with no chance of moving rural anytime soon.
When the shtf how to deal with the people who have not prepared will probably be the biggest issue. Not looking like a prepared person and how to get out and blend in will be an issue also.
Good article and looks like a good book.
Hmmm….great question. I think that I’m most concerned about home and self-defense when SHTF. I include law and government enforcers in that concern i.e., what happened during Katrina.
Two important items I have been thinking about an Emp attack or Civil Unrest. I live near the a large city and I think it will be difficult.
Being in Alaska, my family is most concerned with having a supply of food/water and being able to stay warm. It’s an everyday reality to have a shortage of food if the delivery trucks are delayed
I would have to say that my biggest concern is the execution phase of any disaster planning. Making plans is easy, but actually do it is another. How many of us have actually done what we plan on doing? Have you gone through plan A – D and all the what ifs. I know I haven’t, I have started walking 2 hrs a day to get ready in case I have to walk.
I’m most worried about my youngest son being locked-in at school and my not being able to get to him.
The aspect I am most concerned with is the ability of my preparations to hold up after the disaster occurs. I live in Tornado alley and while I have a decent start (better than my co-workers who think I’m slightly crazy), if a tornado where to directly hit my house I’d be SOL. I have a shelter but can only store so much of our supplies down there along with my family. If the disaster isn’t a tornado, my concern switches to food supply. The wife keeps me on a tight budget for preps, and I feel I am lacking in the food storage dept.